Lenten Devotional: Day 16

The Set Up: I love the saying, “The juice is not worth the squeeze.” It describes situations where the benefit doesn’t justify the cost of something. For instance, when I was a kid my brother and I along with some of our friends really, really, really wanted an Atari game system (the old school kind with controllers made up of a joystick and one orange button to push). We decided the bast way to get one was to collect cans to turn in for recycling. Now, this was before can deposits and we were not in Iowa, so it was going to take A LOT of cans. We scoured the ditches along the roads in our neighborhoods, dug around in the weeds in the woods near our houses, and even did a lot of dumpster diving. It wasn’t pretty, but it was for an Atari 2600, so it was totally worth it. Or so we thought. I remember hauling several garbage bags of cans to a local recycling center ready to become rich beyond my wildest dreams. I also remember walking out of the recycling center with a little over four dollars. At that rate, it was going to take a loooonnng time to bring Pac Man, Centipede, and Asteroids into my living room. We all decided that the juice was not worth the squeeze, and we turned to our Plan B strategy of begging our parents until they got us one just to shut us up.

Sometimes the juice is not worth the squeeze. Maybe you have felt that way about pursuing God, or about giving up something or some things for Lent. You’ve wondered, “Is it worth it?” I want to share with you the words of the Apostle Peter in Acts 3. Acts is the history of the origin of the Christian church and in chapter three, Peter is speaking to a crowd of people in the Temple in Jerusalem. He is calling them to put their faith in Jesus, who had recently been crucified and resurrected. Peter tells them to repent and put their faith in Jesus. This was a big ask for the crowd. They would be trusting in Jesus, rather than their own self-righteousness, for salvation. Here’s what Peter told them:

“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.” – Acts 17:20

Peter called them to repentance, which isn’t high on most people’s list of fun things to do. Then he promised them that when they repented, they would experience, “times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord…” The juice, Peter said, was worth the squeeze. During this Lenten season, you might be struggling with what you have given up for Lent, wondering if it is worth it. I want to encourage you that the juice is worth the squeeze. When you come to God in fasting and repentance, he wants to refresh you.

Biblical passage to read: Acts 3:17-20

Reflection Questions:

• When is the last time you did something and wondered if what you got was worth what it cost you?

• Why do you think fasting, or giving something up for Lent, helps us to grow closer to Christ?

• What would it mean for you to experience, “times of refreshing from the Lord”?

Prayer Focus: Jesus, I believe that you want to bring times of refreshing in my life. As I focus on you this Lenten season I pray that you will help me to give up temporary things to experience the eternal rewards you have in store for me. As I experience your refreshing, help me to refresh others. In your name, amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 15

The Set Up: At Journey, we have an early morning men’s group that meets to go through a Bible study called 33 (modeled after the 33 years of Jesus’ life on earth). Currently the series is focusing on, “A man and his traps,” which deals with some of the sins and struggles that are common to men. One of the biggest insights that we have received in the study so far is that it is not enough to resist areas of temptation and sin in our lives, we also must replace them if we want to overcome them. Saying yes to the right things is just as important as saying no to the wrong things.

I like to compare it to an Olympian or other world-class athlete. When a man or woman is preparing for the Olympics, they spend four years denying themselves things that most people around them are enjoying. Often, an Olympic athlete earns little to no money as they train and prepare, even as their friends are going on vacations or buying new houses. When everyone else is enjoying sweets and junk food, they follow strict diets to help them perform at peak efficiency. While friends are staying out late having a good time or binging the latest Netflix craze until 2 am, they are in bed early, getting the rest they need to train in the morning. Someone preparing to compete in the Olympics says NO to a lot of things. And the reason they can say no to those things, and stick with it, is because they have said YES to something greater. To winning a gold medal and bringing glory to themselves and their countries. You have to say YES to the right things in order to say NO to the wrong things. Resist and replace.

In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul is writing to his friend Titus. Titus was a young leader that Paul had mentored and trained as a church leader. Titus was now overseeing the churches on Crete, a Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea. Paul tells Titus that God has empowered all of us to say no to “godless living” and to say yes to “wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.” Say yes and no. Resist and replace. That’s what Lent is all about. Saying no to our appetites or some part of our regular lives even as we say yes to God in a greater way.

Biblical passage to read: Titus 2:11-14

Reflection Questions:

· What do you think the hardest thing would be for you to give up if you were in training for the Olympics?

· Think about an area of temptation or sin you have struggled with. How can you resist that trap? What could you do to replace that thing in your life?

Prayer Focus: God, you know the areas of weakness and struggle in my life. I pray today that you would give me the strength to resist and say NO to those things that I struggle with. I pray also that you would give me wisdom to say YES to the right things that can replace those temptations. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 14

The Set Up: In the early 1900’s, the London Times newspaper asked the question, “What’s wrong with the world?” It was early in the twentieth century, and the optimism of the Industrial Revolution and the potential of scientific progress had been shattered by World War I. Men had been gassed and gunned down in the trenches. Sickness, poverty, and rising totalitarianism had darkened people’s hopes and dreams. So, the Times wondered, what’s the problem? What’s wrong with the world. Maybe they were hoping for some inspired essays or political commentary to answer their questions.

One person who responded to their question did so in a way they probably never expected. His name was G.K. Chesterton and was considered one of, if not the, greatest thinkers and authors of his generation. What’s wrong with the world? Here’s what he wrote:

Dear Sir: I am. Yours, G.K. Chesterton.

Chesterton was a Christian and an apologist for the Christian faith. When asked what caused all the problems and pain in the world, his answer was simple. Me. While everyone else was looking around them for the problems, Chesterton looked within. He is a lot like King David in the Bible. David had messed up big time and then done what he could to cover it up. But God didn’t let him off the hook and sent a prophet named Nathan to confront him. When he told David a story about a rich man stealing his poor neighbor’s only sheep, David got angry and demanded justice. “You are that man!” Nathan told David. Boom. Mic drop. David went from anger to ashamed in moments (you can read the story in 2 Samuel 11 & 12). But that’s not where it ended. He didn’t blame anyone else, he reached out to God and asked God to change him on the inside. David, like Chesterton, said, “I am.”

Lent is a season of repentance. It is a time to stop blaming everyone and everything else for the way the world is and ask God to change you from the inside out. As you read David’s prayer/song of repentance, allow God to initiate that change in you.

Biblical passage to read: Psalm 51

Reflection Questions:

· If you were asked the question, “What’s wrong with the world?” how would you reply? What do you think of Chesterton’s response?

· When you read David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51, what really jumps out to you?

· How would a change of heart in your life make the world a better place?

Prayer Focus: Father, just like David, I pray that you would create a clean heart in me. To do that, I need you to show me what needs to change and the power of the Holy Spirit to begin that change. In your name, amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 13

The Set Up: Several years ago, a well-known pastor in Africa was interviewed for an American magazine. During the interview, the subjects of faith and miracles came up. “Why,” the pastor was asked, “do the people in your congregation have such great faith that God will take care of them and that miracles happen?” “That is simple,” the pastor replied, “in my country, the people have nowhere else to go.” He went on to say, “In Nigeria, we have blessed assurance, in America you have blessed insurance.” Ouch.

His point? When things are going well, we tend to overestimate our ability to handle life and underestimate our need for God’s guidance and direction. When things are all good, we’re all good. Often, it is not the difficult times in our life that cause us to doubt God, it’s the easy times when we doubt we really need him. In Proverbs 30 we read:

…give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. – Proverbs 30:8-9

Lent is a time of repentance. And a big part of repentance is reliance on God. It’s admitting that we fall short on our own and that we need God’s power in our lives to change. That when we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are celebrating our only hope. It is so easy to think we are doing life on our own. Lent calls us to set aside some of the things we rely on to get us through (food, social, media, etc.) and focus on Christ, our true hope. Because of our affluence in America, we can lose sight of that hope. As Moses was coming to the end of his life and his time of leading Israel, he warned them of that same thing. Don’t let God’s blessing in your life dull your sense of need for him.

Biblical passage to read: Deuteronomy 8:6-20

Reflection Questions:

• When is it easiest for you to trust God, in tough times or in good times?

• When you read Moses’ words to the people in Deuteronomy 8, why do you think he warned them about forgetting God?

• How is the Lenten season helping you to focus or re-focus on your need for Christ?

Prayer Focus: Lord, forgive me for the times when I have forgotten you because life was good, and I thought I had it on my own. Help me to remember that you are my source and my hope. May I rely on you for today and my future. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 12

The Set Up: In the movie Nacho Libre, Nacho (played by Jack Black) is a Catholic priest in Mexico who secretly wants to be a professional wrestler. When he becomes to stressed out, he decides to head out into the wilderness on his own. In the film, we see him comedically sitting underneath a pile of sticks trying to figure out his life. All of a sudden, his close friend shows up to talk to Nacho. “How did you find me in the wilderness?” Nacho asks. “I saw you from the village,” his friend responds. Then the camera pulls back to reveal that Nacho is only about fifty feet from the nearest house. “Hola, Nacho!” shouts the family that stands in their yard waving at him. Nacho wanted to get away, just not that far away…

The idea of getting away from it all and out into the wilderness is not a new one. Long before Thoreau headed out into the woods near Walden Pond, people have withdrawn to the wilderness to clear their minds and reflect on their lives. Many times people in the bible went into the wilderness (or were led there by God) to prepare them for what God was going to do in their lives.

Even Jesus himself went into the wilderness to hear from God. It happened right after he was baptized and had stepped out onto the public stage. Instead of capitalizing on the buzz he was getting from the crowds, Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, went into the wilderness. Not only was he isolated from others, Matthew tells us that he fasted for forty days and nights. Why? Because he wanted to hear from God and was denying himself so he could put all his attention on the words of God. During the Lenten season, we are fasting or giving up certain things as we replace them with seeking God. When we do so, God is faithful to show up and meet us right where we are at, whether that is in the wilderness or in our living room or car.

Biblical passage to read: Matthew 4:1-11

Reflection Questions:

• What is the most remote wilderness place you have ever gone? What was your time there like?

• Of all the temptations that Jesus faced, which one do you think was the most challenging? Why?

• During Lent, what are you hoping that God will show you or do in your life or situation?

Prayer Focus: Father, I know that I do not live by food alone, but by every word that comes from you. I pray that during this Lenten season you would speak to me and help me to take the next step in my faith journey. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 11

The Set Up: Recently, I ran into a friend who had just come back from what appeared to be a great vacation (based on all the pictures she posted). When I asked her about it, she told me she had an incredible time and how much fun she had. Then she told me about how tired she was from all the running around she did on the trip, and shared the famous line, “I need a vacation to rest up from my vacation!” Most of us have either heard that line or said it ourselves. As Spring Break wraps up this weekend, many students and families have gotten away somewhere warm to take a break and relax, and hopefully they feel rested when they get back. Self-care has become a big topic in our culture over the last several years and many people even saw the COVID shutdowns as a way to slow down and simplify our lives. We all tend to jam pack our schedules and our calendars and feel like we spend too much time running on empty. We’re all looking for something or someone who can fill our tanks.

In Isaiah 40, God does a little flexing. He reminds Israel (and us) about his great power. About speaking the universe into existence. About knowing the name of ever star (3 septillion and counting…). He reminds humanity that he exists on a whole other level and that he has no equal. But then, Isaiah chapter 40 closes with this reminder: God wants to give us the rest, the strength, the topping off of the tanks we are looking for. He says this:

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:29-31

That’s what the Lenten season is all about. A time to slow down, fast from food or other distractions, and wait on the Lord. When we do that, God says, we will experience new strength in him.

Biblical Passage to Read: Isaiah 40:21-31

Reflection Questions:

• What are some of the things that help you to rest and “renew your strength”?

• Have you ever thought about the time you spend “waiting on the Lord” (prayer, bible reading, etc.) as something that can renew your strength? How so?

• Is there a time this weekend that you can set aside to just wait on the Lord? If so, are you willing to put it on your calendar and stick with it? If not, when is the next time you can set aside time to wait on the Lord?

Prayer Focus: Lord, thank you that as I wait on you, you will renew my strength. You know me better than I know myself and I trust you to give me what I need.

Lenten Devotional: Day 10

The Set Up: One day, a second-grade teacher was having trouble with one of her students causing trouble in class. Instead of staying in his seat, Josh kept getting up from his desk, wandering around the class and bugging the other kids who were trying to get their work done. Several times the teacher told Josh to go back to his desk and sit down, and several times Josh refused. “Josh, if you don’t sit down, you are going to have to stay inside during recess.” Josh still refused to sit down. “Josh, if you don’t sit down right now, you are going to have to stay inside during recess tomorrow too!” Still, Josh didn’t sit. Finally, “Josh, if you don’t sit down, you are going to lose recess for the rest of the week!” At last Josh reluctantly took his seat. But as he did so, he mumbled under his breath, “I might be sitting down on the outside, but I am still standing up on the inside.”

That describes me sometimes. I am doing the right things on the outside, but on the inside, I am stubbornly resisting. Can you relate? Doing the right things for the wrong reasons might keep us out of trouble, but it doesn’t bring about the change of heart and character that God wants for us.

In Isaiah 58, God takes Israel to task because they are doing the right things on the outside (fasting, showing up at the Temple, etc.) but they are still mistreating each other, taking advantage of the poor, and ignoring the needy among them. God tells them:

“Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” – Isaiah 58:5-7

During this Lenten season, we have the opportunity to not just change our behavior, or give some things up as we fast and pray. We have the opportunity to ask God to change the deeper, under the surface, things in our lives.

Biblical Passage to Read: Isaiah 58

Reflection Questions:

Can you relate to the kid in the story? Are there ever times when you are sitting on the outside, but standing on the inside?

When you read Isaiah 58, what thoughts jump out at you as God tells Israel what he really wants from them?

What do you think “true fasting” looks like in your life?

Prayer Focus: God, I pray that you would change me from the inside out during this Lenten season. I want to do more than control my behavior, I want to change my heart. Help me to see what you really want for my life. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 9

The Set Up: Lent is a season of repentance and humility, a time where we are called to consider our human sin and frailty in light of the splendor and perfection of God our King. Psalm 2 is the first of many so-called “royal Psalms,” focusing on God’s kingly character. The psalm opens with a question that answers itself, establishing rebellion and the throwing off of God’s yoke as the desire of the nations and kings who conspire against the true King. The reaction of “He who sits in the heavens” is scornful laughter, highlighting the ridicule of one who will not be mocked.

The reaction is not only derision, but action. The Lord refers to his Son, the real and true king, who will come and accomplish everything that was originally expected from David and his entire lineage. All is his and his reign over all false kings and nations betrays the attitude of rebels as not only foolish, but dangerous. In a jarring and ironic poetic image, the “potter” (Isaiah 45:9) will smash their lives like broken pottery, which becomes trampled underfoot and ultimately insignificant — trash on the ground.

While this psalm is sobering in its judgment, it also offers great hope. It points forward to the true divine Son who came to be the final and only truly righteous king, the one who obeyed his Father perfectly and broke the yoke of sin to set us free. Because Christ accomplished his mission on earth, he could definitively say: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). He is the one the scriptures call “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:3).

Passage to Read: Psalm 2

Reflection Questions:

• This Psalm talks about the nations wanting things their way instead of God’s way. What are some ways that you see that playing out in our world today? How do you see that playing out in your own life?

• The Psalmist writes, “Serve the Lord with fear?” What do you think it means to fear God?

• How is God wanting to be the king of your life?

Prayer Focus: Our King and Father, where you are there is majesty and perfection. Thank you for giving us your Son, who reflects your glory and intercedes for us, advocates for us, and sends us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. In Christ’s Name, Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 8

The Set Up: People think of Jesus in many ways. Perhaps two of the most common is that he is a wise teacher or a great example. But this passage, which is the most cited in the New Testament, tells us of two of Jesus’ roles — priest and king.

The king in Psalm 110 is unequaled in power and might. He sits at God’s right hand in the place of highest authority. He is guaranteed victory over his adversaries and he rules his people in such a way that they freely follow him. He crushes opposing kings and executes judgment among the nations. He is exalted and has sure victory over all his enemies.

When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, God restored him to his original place at his right hand. His resurrection was both a vindication of his status as the Son of God and his enthronement as the rightful king over creation. He defeated the power of sin and death and he presently reigns as king. This means that Jesus has the power and authority to protect us from all evil and wickedness and that he deserves our complete allegiance and loyalty.

This psalm also tells us that Jesus is a priestly king. Priests offer sacrifices and prayers on behalf of their people. But Jesus is a permanent priest in the order of Melchizedek, who was greater than all other priests. Jesus offered himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sin and he continually intercedes for us. He clothes us in holy garments, so that through him, we can draw near to God.

Passage to Read: Psalm 110

Reflection Questions:

• If someone asked you to describe Jesus, what are some of the first things that come to your mind?

• What do you think it means to see Jesus as a king? How can Jesus be the king of our lives?

• Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What do you think that looks like practically for you?

Prayer Focus: Father, thank you that you have raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at your right hand, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Help us to trust in him daily as our priest and king. In Christ’s Name, Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 7

The Set Up: James, who was the half-brother of Jesus, told the church that they should pray for each other. Those prayers, James said, are, “powerful and effective.” In actuality, the Greek words that James used are better translated, “powerful, having been made effective.” Our prayers are powerful because they have been made effective. What makes your prayers and mine effective? The resurrection of Jesus. It’s not how articulate we are when we pray. It’s not using special words or phrases. It’s praying in the name of Jesus, who died and then CAME BACK TO LIFE, that makes our prayers powerful. And when we pray for each other in Jesus’ name, things happen.

Passage to Read: James 5

Reflection Questions:

1. When you pray, do you believe that your prayers are powerful and effective? Why or why not?

2. James uses Elijah, “a man just like us,” as an example of the power we have in our prayers as regular people. How does this help or embolden you to pray?

Prayer Idea: If you really believed that your prayers were powerful and effective because of Jesus, what would you pray for? Make those your prayers today, and tomorrow, and the day after that. Persist in prayer and see what God will do.

Lenten Devotional: Day 6

THE SET UP: David was the second king of Israel and the bible describes him as, “a man after God’s own heart.” When you read David’s story, one thing that sticks out is how much David trusts God in some pretty horrible situations. For instance, when Saul was the first king of Israel and David was serving him, Saul became jealous of David and tried several times to kill him. David was forced to flee out into the desert and mountains and run for his life. During that time, there were at least two different times where David had Saul lined up in his sights and could have taken him out and become the king. But both times David resisted. He believed that if God wanted him to become king it would happen, but he wasn’t willing to eliminate the current kind to make it happen. Later, when David was the king, his own son Absalom led a coup to take the throne away from David and led an army to hunt David down. Again, David wanted Absalom spared and wept and mourned for him when he was killed in battle. In these hard situations and others, David believed that God would deliver him. 2 Samuel 22 is called, “David’s Song of Praise,” that he sang when he was victorious over all of his enemies. Some of it reminds me of the words of St. Patrick.

THE SCRIPTURE: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; 3 my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. 4 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

“He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. 18 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. 19 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me. 20 He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. - 2 Samuel 22:2-4, 17-20

David had confidence in hard times because he believed that God was his ROCK, his FORTRESS, and his SAVIOR. That when he was at his lowest, God picked him up and placed him on solid ground. This morning when I read that, I put myself in David’s shoes and I thanked God that we was MY Rock, MY Fortress, and MY Savior. God is not just great because of what He did in David’s life, God is great because of how He is at work in MY life. God is our hope and our deliverer. Whatever breakthrough you are praying for today, God is YOUR Rock, YOUR Fortress, and YOUR Savior! During this season of Lent, we are reminding ourselves of our dependence on him.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

- How have you seen God be your rock, your fortress, or your savior in the past? Have you had a “no way out” moment where God was your only hope?

- What is your prayer during this Lenten season? What are you believing God for?

- How has Lent caused your faith to grow so far?

PRAYER FOCUS: Give God thanks for being YOUR Rock, YOUR Fortress, and YOUR Savior. Tell Him what you are believing for Him to breakthrough on your behalf or on behalf of our church or city.

Lenten Devotional: Day 5

THE SET-UP: In the Gospels (the first four books of the New Testament), three of the four authors write about Jesus experiencing a forty-day fast in the wilderness. During this time, we read that He was tempted by the devil. If you have been feeling temptation or thought about giving up on fasting or whatever you have set aside for Lent, you are not the first and you are not alone. When we commit to fasting and prayer, we put ourselves in a position to really hear from God. We also put ourselves in the enemy’s cross hairs. But the good news is that we can trust God to give us the strength we need to keep going as we believe for breakthrough!

THE SCRIPTURE: 4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]”5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. - Luke 4:1-13

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

- When you read this passage, which one of the temptations that Jesus faced do you think was the toughest? Why did you choose that one?

- What are the situations or circumstances that you find tempting in your life? How do you usually respond to those temptations?

- Jesus responded to the devil’s temptations with Scripture. What are some Scripture passages that help you in dealing with temptation in your life?

PRAYER FOCUS: The Bible promises us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). Thank God that He won’t allow you to be overwhelmed by temptation and that He will be your source of strength and encouragement as you go through this Lenten season. Pray also for your brothers and sisters in Christ who are sharing this season with you.

Lenten Devotional: Day 4

The Set Up: James, who was the half-brother of Jesus, told the church that they should pray for each other. Those prayers, James said, are, “powerful and effective.” In actuality, the Greek words that James used are better translated, “powerful, having been made effective.” Our prayers are powerful because they have been made effective. What makes your prayers and mine effective? The resurrection of Jesus. It’s not how articulate we are when we pray. It’s not using special words or phrases. It’s praying in the name of Jesus, who died and then CAME BACK TO LIFE, that makes our prayers powerful. And when we pray for each other in Jesus’ name, things happen.

Passage to Read: James 5

Reflection Questions:

1. When you pray, do you believe that your prayers are powerful and effective? Why or why not?

2. James uses Elijah, “a man just like us,” as an example of the power we have in our prayers as regular people. How does this help or embolden you to pray?

Prayer Idea: If you really believed that your prayers were powerful and effective because of Jesus, what would you pray for? Make those your prayers today, and tomorrow, and the day after that. Persist in prayer and see what God will do.

Lenten Devotional: Day 3

The Set Up: Have you ever lost something that was super valuable to you? Maybe you couldn’t find your wedding ring so you turned your house upside down until you found it. Or maybe you misplaced the plane tickets (back when we used paper tickets) for your vacation and scrambled to come up with them before you missed your flight. Probably one of the scariest moments you can have as a parent is when one of your kids goes missing, or as a child when you couldn’t find your mom at the store. Whatever the situation, whenever you are missing something valuable, you stop whatever else you are doing until you can find it.

In todays passage, God talks to Israel about losing their way spiritually. He tells them that over time they may find themselves drifting away from God and toward the idols of the people around them. Isn’t that the way things often work in our lives too? We don’t often make a hard right turn or a 180 degree turn away from God’s best for our lives. We tend to drift. That’s what God warned Israel about and it’s what can happen to us. But then God gives them an instruction and a promise. It’s found in verse 29:

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. - Deuteronomy 4:29

When we start to feel distant from God, God instructs us to SEEK HIM. That’s what Lent is all about. Setting aside some of the common everyday activities and objects of our lives so we can seek God in a greater way. When we do that, God promises, we will find him. When you seek me, you will find me.

Biblical Passage to Read: Deuteronomy 4:25-31

Reflection Questions:

* What is the most valuable thing you have ever lost? We’re you able to find it or get it back?

* What do you think it means to seek God with all your heart?

* How are you seeking God during this Lenten season?

Prayer Focus: Jesus, you said we should ask, seek, and knock when we pray. I believe that when I ask, I will receive. When I seek I will find. And when I knock the door will be opened. Help me to find you as I seek you this Lenten season.

Lenten Devotional: Day 2

The Set Up: In 1924, Dr. Willem Einthoven, received the Nobel Prize for Medicine. Einthoven, who had been born on Java in the Dutch East Indies, and later grew up in the Netherlands, was a medical doctor and professor who studied the human heart. His efforts to understand the human heart led him to create the String Galvonometer. That early prototype eventually became the first electrocardiographic machine. If you’ve ever had an EKG or ECG of your heart done, you can thank Dr. Einthoven. While the technology has vastly improved (Einthoven’s original machine weighed over 600 pounds, took up two rooms, and required five people to operate. Today, you can get a basic ECG from your Apple Watch), the principles he discovered are still used today. The ability to test our hearts is a great gift in detecting and helping to prevent heart disease or damage. It is a life saver.

In the same way the condition of your physical heart impacts your physical heart, your spiritual “heart” is an indicator of who you are as a person. In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, a collection of wise sayings from Solomon and others, we read that our heart is like a mirror, reflecting our spiritual, emotional, and mental health. When that proverb was written, mirrors were scarce. Sometimes a sheet of bronze or other metal was polished until you could see your reflection, but water was the truest and most accurate surface that they could use to see themselves. But in order for us to be able to get a clear reflection from water, it has to be still. When water is still, we can look at it and clearly see ourselves. Lent is an opportunity for us to be still, to take time to let the water of our heart settle down, so we can take a good long look and see who we are. There are so many things in our 24/7 world that keep the water of our heart sloshing around. May you set some of those things aside this Lenten season, allowing God to show you the condition of your soul, and helping you to grow to be more like Christ.

Passage to Read: “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” – Proverbs 27:19

Reflection Questions:

· Have you ever looked into a fun house mirror (The kind that distorts your reflection)? What are some of the things in our lives that can distort how we see ourselves?

· When is the last time you were able to get still and take a look at the mirror of your heart? Why don’t we do that more often?

· What do you think is the value of seeing the spiritual condition of your heart?

Prayer Idea: In Psalm 139:23-24, David prays, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” As you still your heart and pray this, believe that God will answer that prayer.

Lenten Devotional: Day 1

The Set Up: One of the most interesting and inspiring books in the Old Testament of the Bible is the book of Daniel. When Daniel was a young man, probably a teen or college-age young adult, his nation, Israel was overrun by the Babylonian army. Daniel, along with many children from royal or elite families, was taken to Babylon and put into a training program to see if they could become leaders for the Babylonian Empire. Daniel flourished in Babylon and became one of the kings closest and most trusted advisors. Somehow Daniel was able to maintain his faith in God without compromise despite his environment. And throughout his life, he continued to pray for Israel to be protected and restored. One day, as Daniel read the words of the prophet Jeremiah, he read that Israel would remain desolate for seventy years. When Daniel read that, his heart broke for his people. Despite the fact that he was in a place of power and doing well in Babylon, he cared deeply about his people. Here is how Daniel responded:

“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.” – Daniel 9:3

As we begin the season of Lent leading up to Easter, we are embracing the same posture as Daniel. Daniel fasted, giving up food or some foods, and spent extra time in prayer for Israel. In Lent, we give up food, certain foods, or other things such as entertainment, social media, or other comforts as we commit ourselves to prayer and seeking God. Daniel put on rough burlap clothing and sprinkled himself with ashes, which was a sign of mourning in his time and culture. Yesterday, millions of Christians observed Ash Wednesday as a day of repentance and declaring our need for Christ.

The season of Lent is a time when we determine to set aside some of our comforts to pursue a greater level of relationship with Christ. We give up something to gain something greater. We repent (which means to turn away from 180 degrees) of things in our lives that are keeping us from becoming who God calls us to be. We pick up some things, like prayer, reading the Scriptures, and serving to help us to align our lives with Christ. May the next 45 days be for you a time of growth as you pursue Christ and share in his journey to the cross, even as we anticipate the celebration of his resurrection.

Passage to Read: Daniel 9:1-19

Reflection Questions:

· Daniel was not a part of the problem in Israel, and what was happening there was not his problem. Why do you think he was so moved to fast and pray for them?

· What has helped you personally to feel closest to God? How can you allow the season of Lent to help you feel that closeness?

· What is God asking you to give up for Lent this year? What is God asking to pick up for Lent this year?

Prayer Idea: In the same way that Daniel was moved to fast and pray for Israel, is there something that God is stirring you to pray for during this season? Commit to spend time daily during Lent praying for that situation.

Advent Devotional: Day 21

THE SET UP: This October, Japan’s Princess Mako married commoner Kei Komuro, forfeiting her spot in the royal family, as she and her husband plan to permanently relocate to New York City. They tied the knot by filing an official document but didn’t hold any formal ceremony or reception as the long-delayed marriage drew scrutiny from the media. “For me, Kei-san is a priceless person,” Make, 30, said in a news conference. “For us, our marriage was a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts.” Make also forfeited a $1.23 payment to leave the royal family. She did it all for love.

The story of Advent, the coming of the Messiah, is a story of love. It’s the story of Jesus giving up heaven to come to earth for us. He saw you and me as priceless people. Actually, there was a price, and it was one he was willing to pay. The most well-known Bible verse in the world encapsulates it this way: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” That was a quote from Jesus himself as he explained his mission to a spiritual seeker named Nicodemus.

During this final week of Advent which leads up to the arrival of Jesus on Christmas Day, love, the selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love of God, is the focus. We use the word love in a lot of ways in our everyday conversation. We love our kids, our spouses, and our parents. But we also love pizza, that new sweater, and the Cyclones. Love means a lot of things to us. But it means so much more when we talk about the love of God. That is love in action. It’s the love that sees each of us as a “priceless person.” It is the love that led to a birth in a stable and 33 years later a death on a cross. It is the center of the Gospel (Good News) and the hope of Christmas.

PASSAGES TO READ: Philippians 2:1-11

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• We use the word “love” all the time. How do you define love?

• What’s one of the most amazing or inspiring examples of love that you have witnessed or learned about? What about that story impacted you?

• How do you see the love of God expressed in Philippians 2?

PRAYER IDEA: “Jesus, thank you for loving me enough to let go of heaven and come to earth. You didn’t show up as a conquering king or idolized person, you showed up as a baby and lived a humble life, the life of a servant. Today, I want to respond to that kind of love by reflecting it to you and to others. Help me to follow your example of love. Amen.”

Advent Devotional: Day 20

THE SET UP: I used to think that telling others about Jesus was some sort of task I had to complete. It felt like a reward system, like a holy punch card. “Tell 10 people about Jesus, get an answered prayer” or something like that. Because of how it was presented, I had no real interest. 

The last few years have been phenomenal in regards to my spiritual growth, largely because my understanding and love of Jesus have grown immensely. With that deeper understanding of Jesus’ love for me, my desire to help others experience that has grown, too. It’s not because I feel like it’s a task or a chore, but because I know the difference knowing Jesus has made in my life. I want those I love and care about to have that, too.

Today’s reading shares the account of four friends who wanted to bring their buddy to Jesus. Since this man was paralyzed, his friends carried him to where Jesus was. The house Jesus was teaching at was so full, that instead of trying to push through the crowd, the men busted a hole in the roof and lowered their friend in. Jesus saw their faith and healed the man on the spot. Because of his friends’ faith, this man was able to walk out of the house that he had been carried into.

What impacts me about this account is that the man’s friends met him where he was and tenderly carried him to Jesus. It wasn’t about them; it was about doing whatever was necessary to get their friend to experience true healing. Isn’t that what introducing people to Jesus is all about?

This past year, I’ve had the wonderful experience of watching one of my best friends get to know Jesus. I didn’t do anything special. I didn’t sit down with her and talk through a list of prepared Bible verses. I didn’t pursue a friendship with her to prove to her why Christianity was right or to earn brownie points with God. I just loved her and wanted her to experience Jesus’ love, just like I have. The more we got to know each other, and the more I grew to respect and love her, the more I wanted her to know Jesus and everything He has to offer.

Just like the four men from today’s reading met their friend where he was and brought him to Jesus, that’s what I tried to do. I met my friend where she was, and then supported her and loved her in the best ways I knew how hoping she would see a reflection of God’s love through my actions. 

Isn’t that exactly what Jesus did for us? He left His heavenly throne to come into our world as a human baby. He loved us so much that He met us where we were at. He lived alongside us to show us God’s love personified. 

May this Christmas season encourage you to reflect on the love God has for us and His desire to meet you right where you are. May that love motivate you to show the same love to those around you so that they might also experience the love of the King who was willing to leave His throne on our behalf.

PASSAGES TO READ: Mark 2:1-12

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• Who has encouraged you to know Jesus better? What about them stuck out to you?

• Is there someone who you’d like to introduce to Jesus? 

• How can you be a reflection of God’s love during this holiday season? 
  

PRAYER IDEA: “God, You love us more than I could ever comprehend. Thank You for coming to earth as a man so You could meet us right where we are. May I never lose the wonder of the love that made that possible. Show me how I can love better so I can be a reflection of Your love to those around me. Amen.”

Advent Devotional: Day 19

THE SET UP: In the Christmas movie, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey, after the Grinch has a change of heart, he tells one of the “Who-villains” to, “Cheer up, it’s Christmas. Most of the time, we don’t have to be told to have joy and enjoy Christmas. The celebration of Jesus’ birth and the “peace on earth, goodwill toward all men,” lead to joy.

In the Old Testament, two books, Ezra and Nehemiah, chronicle the Jews returning to Israel after 70 years of captivity. Upon their return, two priorities for them were rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple. After they completed the rebuilding of the walls, they gathered together to celebrate their accomplishment and to listen to Ezra read them the law of Moses and remind them they were God’s people. Often when that happened, it caused people to grieve because they knew how far short they fell in keeping God’s law. But Nehemiah reminded them of something important that day. He told them not to weep or mourn, because, “the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

There is great joy in Christmas and the Advent season because rather than reminding us how we fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), we celebrate Jesus’ birth that makes us possible to be reconciled completely to God (Romans 6:23). Jesus’ birth means that we can be forgiven. That the gap between our best and God’s holiness has been bridged. And that joy can be our strength. Every year, we come to the Christmas season in many different places. Some of us are “living the dream” while others of us are just hanging on. But if your faith is in Christ, the joy of the Lord, and everything his birth means, can be your strength. Rest in that this Christmas. Be strengthened and encouraged. And have a MERRY Christmas!

PASSAGES TO READ: Nehemiah 8:9-12

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• Has there ever been a time when you were struggling, but someone else’s joy helped you through?

• What do you think, “the joy of the Lord is your strength” means?

• What are three things that you can be joyful for or enjoy this Christmas?

PRAYER IDEA: “Lord, thank you for the gift of joy. Help me to find joy in you this Christmas season and to enjoy the life that you have given to me. And help me to spread joy to others during the holiday season and the new year. In your name, amen.”

Advent Devotional: Day 18

THE SET UP: If I’m being truly honest, I have to admit that the holiday season is difficult for me. For the first half of my life, Christmas was a huge event. Our family all lived within a half-hour of each other, so we spent Christmas and Christmas Eve jumping from house to house, opening presents and eating amazing food. I would joke with my older cousins about how long we’d be stuck at the “kids’ table,” and then rush off to play video games with them once we finished clearing off the tables. I’d always find a way to sit on my aunt’s lap, even when I was taller than she was, and I couldn’t wait to eat my paternal grandmother’s peanut brittle (especially the year after I got my braces off - all I wanted that Christmas was her peanut brittle!).

Sadly, my Christmas traditions were flipped upside down during my last couple of years of high school as we mourned the loss of my grandmother, grandfather, and my aunt. Three huge losses within a two-year time span would be difficult for anyone, but the after-effects were just as devastating. The death in our family split our connection with our other relatives, and my uncle and cousins stopped coming to family events.

As a 16-year-old trying to figure out life, faith, and her future, losing those important relationships and my family traditions was excruciating. I was unsure of how to handle my already irrational teenage emotions, so I just became angry. So, so angry. However, becasue I was a “good Christian girl,” I thought I was supposed to just be happy all the time, so I shoved that anger down where it was allowed to grow into bitterness and resentment.

Thankfully, God has worked through all that trauma to help me become the woman I am today. With the help of my friends, family, medication, and an amazing therapist, I’ve been able to process my buried emotions and learn better coping strategies. Not only has that been huge for my own growth, but it’s given me a deeper empathy for others. I can share what I’ve learned with others, especially the students I work with, and I’m better equipped to support my friends when they go through their own hardships. 

Because of His love for me, God didn’t leave me broken. He gave me the resources and strength I needed to find true healing. 

When I start to lose my joy around this season, I try to remember that even the Almighty Creator of the universe wept. Jesus was one with God and knew exactly how everything would play out, but He still felt very real pain and He still cried. 

Jesus came to earth to save us, but He did so as a man in order to live among us and show us how to live out God’s commands in real-time. Jesus lived a fully human life. He felt pain and suffering. He faced criticism and abuse. He went through all of this to show us that God and His justice will ultimately prevail. Jesus’ example shows us that we can feel pain and confusion in hard times, but we can still have joy when we trust in God’s plan.

Christmas is the perfect time for us to remember the humble beginnings of our Savior, the One who willingly stepped down from His heavenly throne to become a carpenter’s son and eventually die a criminal’s death. But He didn’t stay there. He rose again, conquering death and taking away sin’s power.

The power that rose Jesus from the dead is working in us right now. If God is powerful enough to raise the dead and conquer sin and death, isn’t He strong enough to work out your life in a way that is greater than you could ever imagine? True joy comes from trusting in that power. True joy is knowing that even in our deepest pain, God is in control and that He loves us more than we can comprehend.

PASSAGES TO READ: Isaiah 53:1-12

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• How does it affect you knowing that Jesus felt human emotions?

• Jesus knew God’s plan, yet still felt sorrow and pain. What can you learn from His example of obedience and trust?

• What are some ways you can find joy in the hard times?

PRAYER IDEA: “God, You know exactly how everything will play out. You hold my future in Your hands. When I don’t understand why I am struggling, help me trust in You and Your love for me. Help me remember that You are a compassionate God. You lived as a completely human man, and You have felt feelings of pain and suffering. Thank You for not being a distant God. You are intimately familiar with our lives and care about us more than we can understand. Thank You for loving me and being my place of refuge no matter what I’m facing.”